Seed innovation is emerging as a critical climate solution ahead of COP30 in Brazil. The International Seed Federation highlights how climate-ready seeds boost resilience, protect farmer livelihoods, reduce agriculture’s footprint, and strengthen food security. ISF urges smarter policy, stronger supply-chain collaboration, and greater climate finance to scale seed innovations that help farmers adapt to rising heat, drought, and extreme weather.
The post Agriculture’s Best-Kept Climate Secret: The Power of Seeds appeared first on Seed World.
How ISF plans to put agriculture at the heart of COP30.
When people think of climate action, they often picture wind farms, solar panels, or electric cars. But there’s another, quieter force driving climate resilience around the world: seeds.
For decades, seed innovation has helped farmers adapt to unpredictable weather, manage water more efficiently, and grow more food on less land. As the world heads to UN Climate Conference COP30 in Brazil this November, the International Seed Federation (ISF) wants to make sure that story is heard loud and clear.
“Sustainability has always started with seeds,” says Ben Rivoire, Sustainability and Crop Value Chain Manager at ISF. “They are the foundation of agriculture. If we want to build more resilient food systems, this is where it begins.”
Why Seeds Matter for Climate Resilience
The numbers speak for themselves. Global food demand is expected to rise by more than 50% in the coming decades, while climate risks are projected to cause trillions in damages to agriculture, infrastructure, and ecosystems by 2050. Farmers will need crops that can survive hotter, drier, and more unpredictable conditions.
That’s where seed innovation comes in. New improved plant varieties can help farmers adapt in four key ways:
- Coping with climate stress: Seeds bred for drought tolerance, disease resistance, and temperature extremes can help farmers protect yields in tough conditions.
- Reducing the climate footprint: Better seeds can make more efficient use of land and inputs, contributing to climate change mitigation.
- Securing farmer livelihoods: More resilient crops mean fewer losses and more stable incomes, especially for smallholders, women, and young farmers.
- Strengthening food security: Climate-ready seeds can keep food affordable and available even in regions facing severe stress.
“Every bag of seed contains years of research and innovation,” says Rivoire. “When farmers plant those seeds, they’re planting innovation, technology and resilience.”
A Turning Point at COP30
While climate summits have traditionally focused on energy and carbon, agriculture has steadily climbed the global agenda. COP28 marked a milestone with the first-ever Declaration on Sustainable & resilient agriculture and food systems, signed by over 150 countries. COP30 offers a unique chance to build on that momentum.
“This year’s COP is special,” explains Rivoire.
“It’s not just the timing, but also the place. Brazil is one of the world’s largest agricultural producers. It puts the spotlight on land use, food systems, and the people who make agriculture work.”
ISF sees COP30 as more than just another meeting. It’s a chance to show how seed innovation can help meet climate targets while supporting farmer livelihoods and sustainable development.
Partnerships to Drive Change
To make an impact, ISF is focusing on collaboration across the value chain. The organization will work with governments, seed companies, farmers, partners and financial institutions to push for action in three main areas:
- Policy engagement: ISF will highlight countries and regions that are already supporting seed innovation through smart regulation and public-private partnerships, while encouraging others to follow suit.
- Aligned supply chain: A shared message from across the seed and food industries will help make the case that seed is central to building climate-resilient agriculture.
- Finance: Only a fraction of global climate finance currently goes to agriculture. ISF wants to help unlock more investment for seed innovation, especially in regions vulnerable to drought, flood, and other extreme events.
“This is about connecting the dots,” says Rivoire. “From research labs to farms, from finance to policy. Seeds are a bridge between local realities and global solutions.”
Creating the Right Conditions
ISF is also calling for policy frameworks that support seed innovation and global trade. This includes:
- Aligning international trade and phytosanitary standards to allow seeds to move more freely across borders.
- Strengthening intellectual property systems to protect and reward innovation.
- Supporting plant breeding innovation as a critical tool for climate adaptation.
Rivoire points out that many of the solutions farmers need already exist. The real challenge is making sure these solutions reach the fields and farmers fast enough.
“If seed can’t move, solutions can’t scale,” he says. “We need trade policies that protect plant health but also enable innovation to travel.”
A Clear Call to Action
ISF’s message going into COP30 is straightforward: to build climate-resilient food systems, start with seeds. That means putting agriculture at the heart of climate policy, supporting science-based regulation, and investing in the innovation that farmers need to adapt.
“We’re not just talking about the future of farming,” Rivoire concludes. “We’re talking about the future of food. Seeds are at the beginning of every meal, every harvest, every solution. It’s time they’re also at the centre of climate action.”
ISF’s full position paper lays out a clear roadmap for action at COP30. You can read it on the ISF website (https://worldseed.org/document/isf-statement-cop30/ ) and join the conversation on how seeds can shape a more resilient future.
The post Agriculture’s Best-Kept Climate Secret: The Power of Seeds appeared first on Seed World.